russian missions to the moon, venus, and mars in the 1960s

8/9/2019 Russian Missions to the Moon, Venus, And Mars in the 1960s

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Russian Missions to the Moon, Venus,Russian Missions to the Moon, Venus,

and Mars in the 1960sand Mars in the 1960s

http://www.marcusmoon2022.org/


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Russia was the world leader in spaceRussia was the world leader in spacetechnology at the end of 1950s and beginningtechnology at the end of 1950s and beginning

of 1960sof 1960s

First space flight: orbiter Sputnik, Oct. 1957

First space flight: orbiter Sputnik, Oct. 1957

First man in space: Yuriy Gagarin, Apr. 1961First man in space: Yuriy Gagarin, Apr. 1961

Missions to the Moon, Venus, and Mars were aMissions to the Moon, Venus, and Mars were a

significant part of the space program in Russiasignificant part of the space program in Russia


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End of 1950s and beginning ofEnd of 1950s and beginning of

1960s was a good period in Russia1960s was a good period in Russia Stalin ceased, Berya executed

The Party Congress condemned Stalins terror

Downgrading of Ministries of Internal Affairsand State Security

The Korean war ended

Reduction of Soviet Army by 1.8 million people

(twice the current Russian army) More production for people needs at the

expense of military production

T

V became accessible to many people


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Sergey P. KorolyovSergey P. Korolyov

(1907(1907--1966)1966)

chief designerchief designer

head of Russianhead of Russian

space programspace program


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Mstislav V. KeldyshMstislav V. Keldysh(1911(1911--1978)1978)

President of USSRPresident of USSR

Academy of SciencesAcademy of Sciences

Head of science inHead of science in

space programspace program


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16 spacecraft were sent to the Moon in16 spacecraft were sent to the Moon in

19591959--1970. Basic technological1970. Basic technological

achievements areachievements are

First flyby (Luna 1, 1959)

First hard landing (Luna 2, 1959)

First soft landing (Luna 9, 1966)

First orbiter of the Moon (Luna 10, 1966)

First automatic sample return (Luna 16, 1970)


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Scientific results on the MoonsScientific results on the Moons

environmentenvironment

No magnetic fieldNo magnetic field

N

o radiation beltsN

o radiation belts Discovery of masconesDiscovery of mascones

IR and UV spectroscopy of the rocksIR and UV spectroscopy of the rocks

Images of the Moon at wide range ofImages of the Moon at wide range of

scalesscales

XX--ray and gammaray and gamma--ray spectroscopy of theray spectroscopy of the

rocksrocks


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Science results on theScience results on the

interplanetary spaceinterplanetary space

Discovery of the solar wind and studyDiscovery of the solar wind and study

of its propertiesof its properties

First studies of the outer radiation beltFirst studies of the outer radiation belt

In situ studies of interplanetary dustIn situ studies of interplanetary dust

particles (micrometeorites)particles (micrometeorites)

Cosmic rays in the interplanetaryCosmic rays in the interplanetary

spacespace


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Moon sample return (Luna 16, 1970)Moon sample return (Luna 16, 1970)

Launch to Earths orbitLaunch to Earths orbit

Flight to the Moon with one midFlight to the Moon with one mid--coursecourse

correctioncorrection

Entered a Moons circular orbit h = 110 kmEntered a Moons circular orbit h = 110 km Two orbital adjustments to get hTwo orbital adjustments to get hminmin = 15 km= 15 km

Soft landingSoft landing

Drilling and collection of a soil sample (35 cm,Drilling and collection of a soil sample (35 cm,105 g)105 g)

Launch of the upper stage to EarthLaunch of the upper stage to Earth

Parachute landing near the expected pointParachute landing near the expected point


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Landing module of Luna 16 (mass

1,880 kg). Total mass was 5,600 kg


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Missions to Venus and Mars in 1960sMissions to Venus and Mars in 1960s

Badly affected by insufficient reliability of the 4Badly affected by insufficient reliability of the 4thth

rocket stage (which drove a spacecraft from orbitrocket stage (which drove a spacecraft from orbitaround Earth) and some spacecraft subsystemsaround Earth) and some spacecraft subsystems

Venera (Feb. 1961), first interplanetary probe;Venera (Feb. 1961), first interplanetary probe;

lost on the way to Venuslost on the way to Venus

2MV (launch in 1962): landing to Venus and flyby of2MV (launch in 1962): landing to Venus and flyby ofMars. Mars 1 was lost halfway to Mars.Mars. Mars 1 was lost halfway to Mars.

3MV (launch in 19643MV (launch in 1964--1965): landing to Venus and1965): landing to Venus andflybys of Venus and Mars. Veneras 2 and 3 wereflybys of Venus and Mars. Veneras 2 and 3 werelost before their flyby and hard landing, respectivelylost before their flyby and hard landing, respectively

Spacecraft to Mars was not ready in time and wasSpacecraft to Mars was not ready in time and wassent to the Moon as Zond 3 (1965)sent to the Moon as Zond 3 (1965)


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Four-stage Soyuzrocket to launch

spaceraft of 1000 kg

to Moon and planetsin the 1960s


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Missions to Moon and planets were transferred toMissions to Moon and planets were transferred to

Babakin Space Center in 1965Babakin Space Center in 1965

Venera 4 (1967)Venera 4 (1967)

was the first softwas the first soft

entry probe; directentry probe; direct

measurements atmeasurements at

55 to 23 km (18 bar)55 to 23 km (18 bar)

Veneras 5 and 6Veneras 5 and 6

(1969): down to 17(1969): down to 17

km (28 bar)km (28 bar)


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Venera 7 (1970):

first soft landingon another planet.

On-orbit mass

1180 kg, mass of

lander 500 kg

Mars 1969: newlarge spacecraft and new powerful

rocket. Crashed at the launch


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Scientific return from the early

Venera missions Direct measurements of atmospheric pressure,

density, and temperature from 55 km down to the

surface

Chemical composition: CO2 > 90%, N2 < 7%

Hydrogen corona, upper limit to atomic oxygen

No magnetic moment (< 3x10-4 of the Earths)

Plasma bow shock at 19,000 km and solar windinteraction with the induced magnetosphere

Solar wind, cosmic ray, interplanetary dust

measurements at the cruise phases


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Mars Sample Return

(similar to NASA-ESA mission in the

next decade)

Planned launch in 1975

Total spacecraft mass 20 tons New powerful rocket N1

After drilling and sample collection, it should

be delivered into a Mars orbit and wait for thefavorable return launch during 10 months

The program was not completed because ofsome conceptual drawbacks of the N1 rocket


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My work in the 1960sMy work in the 1960s I graduated at Moscow State University and joined aI graduated at Moscow State University and joined a

team of Aleksander Lebedinsky (1913team of Aleksander Lebedinsky (1913--1967) in 19611967) in 1961 Technically responsible for:Technically responsible for:

surface phase state and gammasurface phase state and gamma--ray detector atray detector atthe Venus lander of 2MV (1962)the Venus lander of 2MV (1962)

photometer at the Venera 3 landerphotometer at the Venera 3 lander (1965)(1965)electronics of the IR radiometer at Luna 13electronics of the IR radiometer at Luna 13(1966)(1966)

UV spectrometersUV spectrometers at Venera 2 (1965),at Venera 2 (1965), Zond 3Zond 3(1965), Cosmos 65 (1965) and Cosmos(1965), Cosmos 65 (1965) and Cosmos

121 (1966)121 (1966) Principal investigator of:Principal investigator of:

UV spectrometer at Mars 69UV spectrometer at Mars 69

dayglow photometer at Cosmos 224 (1968)dayglow photometer at Cosmos 224 (1968)


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AleksandrAleksandr

LebedinskyLebedinsky

(1913(1913--1967)1967)


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Surface phase state and gamma-ray

detector (2MV, 1962)

Venus was considered as Earths sister with apossible ocean

Microwave observations at the end of 1950sindicated high temperature and pressure in thelower atmosphere of Venus

However, it was suggested that the observed signalmight be caused by some ionospheric phenomena

Lebedinsky told me in June 1961 that Keldysh hadapproved his idea of a simple device to distinguishbetween liquid and solid surfaces for 2MV (launch in

August 1962). He asked me to be responsible forthat instrument


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Mercury level

> 3 solid surface

(mean 15)

< 3 liquid surface


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Evolution of the instrument


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The 1960s were a period of greatThe 1960s were a period of great

progress in space researchprogress in space research

Apollo 11 (1969): the first mannedApollo 11 (1969): the first mannedmission to land on the Moon, themission to land on the Moon, the

greatest achievement in spacegreatest achievement in space Luna 16 (1970): sample return from theLuna 16 (1970): sample return from the

Moon, the most sophisticated roboticMoon, the most sophisticated roboticmissionmission

Voyager (1977Voyager (1977--1989): mission to the1989): mission to theouter planets, the highest scientificouter planets, the highest scientificreturn in the solar system studiesreturn in the solar system studies


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Some poorly known factsSome poorly known facts

(not related to space research)(not related to space research)

The car engine was invented byThe car engine was invented by

Nicolaus Otto, a GermanNicolaus Otto, a German TV was invented by VladimirTV was invented by Vladimir

Zvorykin, a Russian AmericanZvorykin, a Russian American

Special relativity was created bySpecial relativity was created byLorentz, Poincare, Einstein, andLorentz, Poincare, Einstein, and

MinkowskiMinkowski

russian missions to the moon, venus, and mars in the 1960s

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